It is easy to remove a small tree from the ground. Much easier to remove a small seedling. However, taking down a mighty oak will take a tremendous amount of work. Don’t allow your bad habits to grow into a mighty oak. Nip them in the bud!

The bad behaviors and traits I despise in others may be just a reflection on my negative traits. I need to keep looking in the mirror every day before judging others. People who get on my nerves are usually my greatest teachers.

Michelangelo, “the greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”?

Comes down to doing all the small stuff on a consistent basis. This is most difficult after achieving success or a win in life. Need to stay humble and keep doing the hard work that made the win possible. Most people can win in the short term, but are not consistent enough to win in the long term. This is my window of opportunity.

Also, winning margins are very small. Michael Phelps shared the story of just keeping his head down in final push, which allowed him to win the gold medal by the smallest of margins. The other competitor lifted his head up which gave Michael the edge.

Be mindful of your resting face when communicating. You may be sending negative signals. Get objective feedback on how you look during meetings and conversations. This will help you make the necessary changes to your demeanor. Quick Remedy- Smile More!

I was listening to one of my mentors, Darren Hardy, and he mentioned that most people are not pushing change hard enough and therefore not as successful as they could be. I need to quit worrying about being liked and move toward pushing the envelope and developing & nurturing respect with those around me. Most people don’t like change, but it is the only way progress can be achieved.

“One reason many people never see God working in their lives is because they never hang in long enough for God to show his power.” Wayne Stiles

Better to be rich than to look rich. I would also add that time is worth more than money. In my career I have always weighed taking on more projects and earning more money against the additional time away from family & friends.

I read an interesting story on Willpower. One group was put in a room with Cookies and Radishes. This group was told they could have as many cookies as they would like, but no radishes. The other group was told they could have as many radishes as they would like, but no cookies. After this experiment, a test was given to the participants. The cookie eaters scored higher because their willpower was higher. They did have to utilize any willpower to avoid cookies! The other group’s willpower was low because of the effort needed to withstand going to the cookie jar.

Watching a video by Darren Hardy this morning and he talked about Resume Building versus Legacy Building. Resume Building is learning new things and networking to further your career. Legacy Building is how you impact the lives of others each day. Am I focused more on my resume or legacy? I have to say, it is my resume. Need to spend more time looking for ways to make a positive difference in the lives of others.